Benzimidazole inhibitors of leukotriene production

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (IA) and (IB): 
                         
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R 1 -R 7  are as defined herein. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, processes for preparing these compounds and intermediates useful in these processes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to benzimidazoles that are useful as inhibitors of five lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) and are thus useful for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are mediated or sustained through the activity of leukotrienes including asthma, allergy, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory pain, acute chest syndrome and cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and stroke. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, processes for preparing these compounds and intermediates useful in these processes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Leukotrienes (LTs) and the biosynthetic pathway from arachidonic acid leading to their production have been the targets of drug discovery efforts for over twenty years. LTs are produced by several cell types including neutrophils, mast cells, eosinophils, basophils monocytes and macrophages. The first committed step in the intracellular synthesis of LTs involves oxidation of arachidonic acid by 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) to LTA4, a process requiring the presence of the 18 kD integral membrane protein 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) (D. K. Miller et al., Nature, 1990, 343, 278-281; R. A. F. Dixon et al., Nature, 1990, 343, 282-284). Subsequent metabolism of LTA₄ leads to LTB₄, and the cysteinyl LTs-LTC₄, LTD₄ and LTE₄ (B. Samuelsson, Science, 1983, 220, 568-575). The cysteinyl LTs have potent smooth muscle constricting and bronchoconstricting effects and they stimulate mucous secretion and vascular leakage. LTB₄ is a potent chemotactic agent for leukocytes, and stimulates adhesion, aggregation and enzyme release.

Much of the early drug discovery effort in the LT area was directed towards the treatment of allergy, asthma and other inflammatory conditions. Research efforts have been directed towards numerous targets in the pathway including antagonists of LTB₄ and the cysteinyl leukotrienes LTC₄, LTD₄ and LTE₄, as well as inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), LTA₄ hydrolase and inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) (R. W. Friesen and D. Riendeau, Leukotriene Biosynthesis Inhibitors, Ann. Rep. Med. Chem., 2005, 40, 199-214). Years of effort in the above areas have yielded a few marketed products for the treatment of asthma including a 5-LO inhibitor, zileuton, and LT antagonists, montelukast, pranlukast and zafirlukast.

More recent work has implicated LTs in cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, stroke and atherosclerosis (G. Riccioni et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 2008, 1374-1378). FLAP and 5-LO were among the components of the 5-LO and LT cascade found in atherosclerotic lesions, suggesting their involvement in atherogenesis (R. Spanbroek et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2003, 100, 1238-1243). Pharmacological inhibition of FLAP has been reported to decrease atherosclerotic lesion size in animal models. In one study, oral dosing of the FLAP inhibitor MK-886 to apoE/LDL-R double knockout mice fed a high-fat diet from 2 months of age to 6 months led to a 56% decrease in plaque coverage in the aorta and a 43% decrease in the aortic root (J. Jawien et al., Eur. J. Clin. Invest., 2006, 36, 141-146). This plaque effect was coupled with a decrease in plaque-macrophage content and a concomitant increase in collagen and smooth muscle content which suggests a conversion to a more stable plaque phenotype. In another study, it was reported that administration of MK-886 via infusion to ApoE^(−/−)xCD4dnTβRII mice (apoE KO mice expressing a dominant-negative TGF-beta receptor which effectively removes all TGF-beta from the system) resulted in about a 40% decrease in plaque area in the aortic root (M. Back et al., Circ. Res., 2007, 100, 946-949). The mice were only treated for four weeks after plaque growth was already somewhat mature (12 weeks) thus raising the possibility of therapeutically treating atherosclerosis via this mechanism. In a study examining human atherosclerotic lesions, it was found that the expression of FLAP, 5-LO and LTA₄ hydrolase was significantly increased compared to healthy controls (H. Qiu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 103, 21, 8161-8166). Similar studies suggest that inhibition of the LT pathway, for example by inhibition of FLAP, would be useful for the treatment of atherosclerosis (for reviews, see M. Back Curr. Athero. Reports, 2008 10, 244-251 and Curr. Pharm. Des., 2009, 15, 3116-3132).

In addition to the work cited above, many other studies have been directed towards understanding the biological actions of LTs and the role of LTs in disease. These studies have implicated LTs as having a possible role in numerous diseases or conditions (for a review, see M. Peters-Golden and W. R. Henderson, Jr., M.D., N. Engl. J. Med., 2007, 357, 1841-1854). In addition to the specific diseases cited above, LTs have been implicated as having a possible role in numerous allergic, pulmonary, fibrotic, inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as cancer. Inhibition of FLAP is also reported to be useful for treating renal diseases such as diabetes-induced proteinuria (see for example J. M. Valdivieso et al., Journal of Nephrology, 2003, 16, 85-94 and A Montero et al., Journal of Nephrology, 2003, 16, 682-690).

A number of FLAP inhibitors have been reported in the scientific literature (see for example J. F. Evans et al., Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2008, 72-78) and in U.S. patents. Some have been evaluated in clinical trials for asthma, including MK-886, MK-591, and BAY X1005, also known as DG-031. More recently, the FLAP inhibitor AM-103 (J. H. Hutchinson et al., J. Med. Chem. 52, 5803-5815) has been evaluated in clinical trials, based on its anti-inflammatory properties (D. S. Lorrain et al., J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 2009, DOI:10.1124/jpet.109.158089). Subsequently, it was replaced by the back-up compound AM-803 (GSK-2190915) for the treatment of respiratory diseases. DG-031 has also been in clinical trials to evaluate its effect on biomarkers for myocardial infarction risk and showed a dose-dependent suppression of several biomarkers for the disease (H. Hakonarson et al., JAMA, 2005, 293, 2245-2256). MK-591 was shown in a clinical trial to reduce proteinuria in human glomerulonephritis (see for example A. Guash et al., Kidney International, 1999, 56, 291-267).

However, to date, no FLAP inhibitor has been approved as a marketed drug.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides novel compounds which inhibit 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) and are thus useful for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are mediated or sustained through the activity of leukotrienes, including allergic, pulmonary, fibrotic, inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, processes for preparing these compounds and intermediates useful in these processes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In its first broadest embodiment, the present invention relates to a compound of formula IA

wherein: R¹ is a 5-11 membered heteroaryl ring containing one to three heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, wherein the heteroaryl ring is optionally independently substituted with one to three groups selected from Ra, Rb and Rc; R² is C₁-C₆ alkyl; R³ is —OH, —N(R⁸)(R⁹), —NH—S(O)₂—C₁₋₆alkyl, NH—S(O)₂-aryl, 5-6 membered heterocycle or C₁₋₆alkoxy; R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from

-   -   (a) —H,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) halogen,     -   (d) —CN,     -   (e) —CF₃,     -   (f) C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, C₁₋₆alkoxyl-N(R⁸)(R⁹), or —C(O)N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (g) C₁₋₆alkoxy optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, —OC₁₋₆alkyl, —OC₃₋₆ cycloalkyl     -   (h) —S(O)_(n)C₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (i) —CO₂R⁸,     -   (j) —S(O)₂N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (k) a 5-membered heteroaryl ring,     -   (l) a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring;         R⁸ and R⁹ are each independently selected from —H, C₁₋₆alkyl,         C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, halogen, —CF₃, —OH, —(CH₂)_(n)CO₂R¹⁰, —CN,         C₁₋₆alkoxyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-O—C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylhydroxyl,         C₁₋₃alkyl-CN, 5-6 membered heteroaryl ring and 5-6 membered         heterocyclic ring, wherein the C₁₋₆alkyl is optionally         substituted with a 5-6 heteroaryl ring, 5-6 membered         heterocyclic ring or —N(R¹⁰)(R¹¹);         R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and         C₁₋₆alkyl;         Ra is selected from H, —NH₂, —NH(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NR¹⁰R¹¹,         —NH—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, NR¹¹—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, —O(C₁-C₈)alkyl,         —O—(C₃-C₆)cycloalkyl, —S—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₆alkyl,         —S(O)₂—C₁-C₆alkyl, oxo and —CH₂—OH;         Rb is selected from —H, —(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NH₂,         —CH₂—OH, —C≡N, —CH₂NH₂ and —C(O)OCH₃;         Rc is selected from —H, —CH₃ and, —OH;         n is 1 or 2;         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to a compound of formula (IA) as described in the broadest embodiment above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

R¹ is pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, pyrrolopyridinyl, imidazopyridinyl, pyrazolopyridinyl and dihydropyrrolopyridinyl optionally substituted with oxo, wherein each heterocycle is optionally independently substituted with one to three groups selected from Ra, Rb and Rc; R² is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, pentyl or hexyl; R³ is —OH, —N(R⁸)(R⁹), —NH—S(O)₂—C₁₋₆alkyl, NH—S(O)₂-phenyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, tetrahydropyranyl or C₁₋₆alkoxy; R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from

-   -   (a) —H,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) halogen,     -   (d) —CN,     -   (e) —CF₃,     -   (f) C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, C₁₋₆alkoxyl-N(R⁸)(R⁹), or —C(O)N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (g) C₁₋₆alkoxy optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, —OC₁₋₆alkyl, —OC₃₋₆ cycloalkyl,     -   (h) —S(O)_(n)C₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (i) —CO₂R⁸,     -   (j) —S(O)₂N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (k) pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl and         tetrazolyl,     -   (l) pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,         tetrahydropyranyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl and         dioxothiomorpholinyl;         R⁸ and R⁹ are each independently selected from —H, C₁₋₆alkyl,         C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, halogen, —CF₃, —OH, —(CH₂)_(n)CO₂R¹⁰, —CN,         C₁₋₆alkoxyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-O—C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylhydroxyl,         C₁₋₃alkyl-CN, 5-6 membered heteroaryl ring and 5-6 membered         heterocyclic ring, wherein the C₁₋₆alkyl is optionally         substituted with pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl,         pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,         tetrahydropyranyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl,         dioxothiomorpholinyl or —N(R¹⁰)(R¹¹);         R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and         C₁₋₃alkyl;         Ra is selected from H, —NH₂, —NH(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NR¹⁰R¹¹,         —NH—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, NR¹¹—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, —O(C₁-C₈)alkyl,         —O(C₃-C₆)cycloalkyl, —S—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₆alkyl,         —S(O)₂—C₁-C₆alkyl, oxo and —CH₂—OH;         Rb is selected from —H, —(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NH₂,         —CH₂—OH, —C≡N, —CH₂NH₂ and —C(O)OCH₃;         Rc is selected from —H, —CH₃ and —OH;         n is 1 or 2.

In third embodiment, the present invention relates to a compound of formula (IA) as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein:

R¹ is selected from:

Ra is selected from H, —NH₂, —NH(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NR¹⁰R¹¹, —NH—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, NR¹¹—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, —O(C₁-C₈)alkyl, —O(C₃-C₆)cycloalkyl, —S—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₆alkyl, —S(O)₂—C₁-C₆alkyl and —CH₂—OH; Rb is selected from —H, —(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NH₂, —CH₂—OH, —C≡N, —CH₂NH₂ and —C(O)OCH₃; Rc is selected from —H, —CH₃ and —OH; R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and C₁₋₃alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a fourth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IA) as described in any of the preceding embodiments above, wherein:

R² is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl or isobutyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a fifth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IA) as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein:

R³ is —OH, —N(R⁸)(R⁹), —NH—S(O)₂—C₁₋₆alkyl, NH—S(O)₂-phenyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl or C₁₋₆alkoxy;

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from

-   -   (a) —H,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) halogen,     -   (d) —CN,     -   (e) —CF₃,     -   (f) C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, C₁₋₆alkoxyl-N(R⁸)(R⁹), or —C(O)N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (g) C₁₋₆alkoxy optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, —OC₁₋₆alkyl, —OC₃₋₆alkyl     -   (h) —S(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (i) —CO₂R⁸,     -   (j) —S(O)₂N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (k) pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl and         tetrazolyl,     -   (l) pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,         tetrahydropyranyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl and         dioxothiomorpholinyl;         R⁸ and R⁹ are each independently selected from —H, C₁₋₆alkyl,         C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, halogen, —CF₃, —OH, —CH₂CO₂R¹⁰, —CN,         C₁₋₆alkoxyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-O—C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylhydroxyl,         C₁₋₃alkyl-CN, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl,         tetrahydropyranyl and tetrahydrofuranyl, wherein the C₁₋₆alkyl         is optionally substituted with pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl,         pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,         tetrahydrothienyl, tetrahydropyranyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl,         thiomorpholinyl, dioxothiomorpholinyl or —N(R¹⁰)(R¹¹);         R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and         C₁₋₃alkyl;         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a sixth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IA) as described in the first or second embodiment above, wherein:

R¹ is pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl or pyridazinyl, each optionally substituted with an amino group;

R² is t-butyl;

R³ is —OH, —N(R⁸)(R⁹), —NH—S(O)₂—C₁₋₆alkyl, morpholinyl or C₁₋₃alkoxy;

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from

-   -   (a) —H,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) halogen,     -   (d) —CN,     -   (e) —CF₃,     -   (f) C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, C₁₋₆alkoxyl-N(R⁸)(R⁹), or —C(O)N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (g) C₁₋₆alkoxy optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, —OC₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (i) —S(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (h) —CO₂R⁸,     -   (i) —S(O)₂N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (j) pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl and         tetrazolyl,     -   (k) piperidinyl and morpholinyl;         R⁸ and R⁹ are each independently selected from —H, C₁₋₃alkyl,         cyclopropyl, halogen, —CN, C₁₋₄alkyl-O-methoxy, pyridinyl and         piperidinyl, wherein the C₁₋₆alkyl is optionally substituted         with pyridinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, or —N(R¹⁰)(R¹¹);         R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and         C₁₋₃alkyl;         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a seventh embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IA) as described in the sixth embodiment above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein R¹ is

In an eighth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IA) as described in the sixth embodiment above, wherein:

R² is t-butyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a ninth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IA) according to embodiment six, wherein:

R¹ is

R² is t-butyl; R³ is

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from —H, —CN and F; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In another first broadest embodiment, the present invention relates to a compound of formula IB

wherein: R¹ is a 5-11 membered heteroaryl ring containing one to three heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, wherein the heteroaryl ring is optionally independently substituted with one to three groups selected from Ra, Rb and Rc; R² is C₁-C₆ alkyl; R³ is —OH, —N(R⁸)(R⁹), —NH—S(O)₂—C₁₋₆alkyl, NH—S(O)₂-aryl, 5-6 membered heterocycle or C₁₋₆alkoxy; R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from

-   -   (a) —H,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) halogen,     -   (d) —CN,     -   (e) —CF₃,     -   (f) C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, C₁₋₆alkoxyl-N(R⁸)(R⁹), or —C(O)N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (g) C₁₋₆alkoxy optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, —OC₁₋₆alkyl, —OC₃₋₆ cycloalkyl     -   (h) —S(O)_(n)C₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (i) —CO₂R⁸,     -   (j) —S(O)₂N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (k) a 5-membered heteroaryl ring,     -   (l) a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring;         R⁸ and R⁹ are each independently selected from —H, C₁₋₆alkyl,         C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, halogen, —CF₃, —OH, —(CH₂)_(n)CO₂R¹⁰, —CN,         C₁₋₆alkoxyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-O—C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylhydroxyl,         C₁₋₃alkyl-CN, 5-6 membered heteroaryl ring and 5-6 membered         heterocyclic ring, wherein the C₁₋₆alkyl is optionally         substituted with a 5-6 heteroaryl ring, 5-6 membered         heterocyclic ring or —N(R¹⁰)(R¹¹);         R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and         C₁₋₆alkyl;         Ra is selected from H, —NH₂, —NH(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NR¹⁰R¹¹,         —NH—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, NR¹¹—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, —O(C₁-C₈)alkyl,         —O(C₃-C₆)cycloalkyl, —S—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₆alkyl,         —S(O)₂—C₁-C₆alkyl, oxo and —CH₂—OH;         Rb is selected from —H, —(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NH₂,         —CH₂—OH, —C≡N, —CH₂NH₂ and —C(O)OCH₃;         Rc is selected from —H, —CH₃ and, —OH;         n is 1 or 2;         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to a compound of formula (IB) as described in the broadest embodiment above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

R¹ is pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, pyrrolopyridinyl, imidazopyridinyl, pyrazolopyridinyl and dihydropyrrolopyridinyl optionally substituted with oxo, wherein each heterocycle is optionally independently substituted with one to three groups selected from Ra, Rb and Rc; R² is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, pentyl or hexyl; R³ is —OH, —N(R⁸)(R⁹), —NH—S(O)₂—C₁₋₆alkyl, NH—S(O)₂-phenyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, tetrahydropyranyl or C₁₋₆alkoxy; R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from

-   -   (a) —H,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) halogen,     -   (d) —CN,     -   (e) —CF₃,     -   (f) C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, C₁₋₆alkoxyl-N(R⁸)(R⁹), or —C(O)N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (g) C₁₋₆alkoxy optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, —OC₁₋₆alkyl, —OC₃₋₆ cycloalkyl,     -   (h) —S(O)—C₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (i) —CO₂R⁸,     -   (j) —S(O)₂N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (k) pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl and         tetrazolyl,     -   (l) pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,         tetrahydropyranyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl and         dioxothiomorpholinyl;         R⁸ and R⁹ are each independently selected from —H, C₁₋₆alkyl,         C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, halogen, —CF₃, —OH, —(CH₂)_(n)CO₂R¹⁰, —CN,         C₁₋₆alkoxyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-O—C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylhydroxyl,         C₁₋₃alkyl-CN, 5-6 membered heteroaryl ring and 5-6 membered         heterocyclic ring, wherein the C₁₋₆alkyl is optionally         substituted with pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl,         pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,         tetrahydropyranyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl,         dioxothiomorpholinyl or —N(R¹⁰)(R¹¹);         R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and         C₁₋₃alkyl;         Ra is selected from H, —NH₂, —NH(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NR¹⁰R¹¹,         —NH—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, NR¹¹—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, —O(C₁-C₈)alkyl,         —O(C₃-C₆)cycloalkyl, —S—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₆alkyl,         —S(O)₂—C₁-C₆alkyl, oxo and —CH₂—OH;         Rb is selected from —H, —(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NH₂,         —CH₂—OH, —C≡N, —CH₂NH₂ and, C(O)OCH₃;         Rc is selected from —H, —CH₃ and —OH;         n is 1 or 2.

In third embodiment, the present invention relates to a compound of formula (IB) as described in any of the preceding embodiments wherein,

R¹ is selected from:

Ra is selected from H, —NH₂, —NH(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NR¹⁰R¹¹, —NH—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, NR¹¹—C(O)C₁-C₆alkyl, —O(C₁-C₈)alkyl, —O(C₃-C₆)cycloalkyl, —S—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₆alkyl, —S(O)₂—C₁-C₆alkyl and —CH₂—OH; Rb is selected from —H, —(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —NH₂, —CH₂—OH, —C≡N, —CH₂NH₂ and —C(O)OCH₃; Rc is selected from —H, —CH₃ and —OH; R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and C₁₋₃alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a fourth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IB) as described in any of the preceding embodiments above, wherein:

R² is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl or isobutyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a fifth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IB) as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein:

R³ is —OH, —N(R⁸)(R⁹), —NH—S(O)₂—C₁₋₆alkyl, NH—S(O)₂-phenyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl or C₁₋₆alkoxy;

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from

-   -   (a) —H,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) halogen,     -   (d) —CN,     -   (e) —CF₃,     -   (f) C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, C₁₋₆alkoxyl-N(R⁸)(R⁹), or —C(O)N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (g) C₁₋₆alkoxy optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, —OC₁₋₆alkyl, —OC₃₋₆alkyl     -   (h) —S(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (i) —CO₂R⁸,     -   (i) —S(O)₂N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (k) pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl and         tetrazolyl,     -   (l) pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,         tetrahydropyranyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl and         dioxothiomorpholinyl;         R⁸ and R⁹ are each independently selected from —H, C₁₋₆alkyl,         C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, halogen, —CF₃, —OH, —CH₂CO₂R¹⁰, —CN,         C₁₋₆alkoxyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-O—C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylhydroxyl,         C₁₋₃alkyl-CN, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl,         tetrahydropyaranyl and teterahydrofuranyl, wherein the C₁₋₆alkyl         is optionally substituted with pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl,         pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,         tetrahydrothienyl, tetrahydropyranyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl,         thiomorpholinyl, dioxothiomorpholinyl or —N(R¹⁰)(R¹¹);         R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each independently selected from —H and         C₁₋₃alkyl;         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a sixth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IB) as described in the first or second embodiment above, wherein:

R¹ is pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl or pyridazinyl, each optionally substituted with an amino or methoxy group;

R² is t-butyl;

R³ is —OH or —N(R⁸)(R⁹);

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from

-   -   (a) —H,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) halogen,     -   (d) —CN,     -   (e) —CF₃,     -   (f) C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, C₁₋₆alkoxyl-N(R⁸)(R⁹), or —C(O)N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (g) C₁₋₆alkoxy optionally substituted with one to three —OH,         fluorine, —OC₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (h) —S(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl,     -   (i) —CO₂R⁸,     -   (j) —S(O)₂N(R⁸)(R⁹),     -   (k) pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furanyl, thiazolyl and         tetrazolyl,     -   (l) piperidinyl and morpholinyl;         R⁸ and R⁹ are each independently selected from —H and C₁₋₃alkyl;         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a seventh embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IB) as described in the sixth embodiment above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein R¹ is

In an eighth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IB) as described in the sixth embodiment above, wherein:

R² is t-butyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a ninth embodiment there is provided a compound of formula (IB) according to embodiment six, wherein:

R¹ is

R² is t-butyl; R³ is

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are each independently selected from —H and F; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The following are representative compounds of the invention which can be made by the general synthetic schemes, the examples, and known methods in the art.

TABLE 1 Example Structure Name 1

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-benzoic acid 2

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- cyclopropyl-benzamide 3

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- pyridin-4-yl-benzamide 4

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- methyl-benzamide 5

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4,5- difluoro-N-methyl- benzamide 6

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4- fluoro-N-methyl-benzamide 7

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-5- methoxy-N-methyl- benzamide 8

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4- cyano-N-methyl-benzamide 9

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- methyl-4-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)- benzamide 10

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4- cyano-N-cyano-benzamide 11

N-{2-[5-(2-Amino- pyrimidin-5-yl)-1-tert-butyl- 1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4- cyano-benzoyl}- methanesulfonamide 12

3-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4- fluoro-N,N-dimethyl- benzamide 13

3-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]- benzamide 14

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]- benzamide 15

3-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4- fluoro-benzoic acid 16

3-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-benzoic acid 17

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-benzoic acid methyl ester 18

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- (tetrahydro-furan-2- ylmethyl)-benzamide 19

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N-(2- methoxy-ethyl)-benzamide 20

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- pyridin-2-yl-benzamide 21

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N-tert- butyl-benzamide 22

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- pyridin-3-yl-benzamide 23

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- ethyl-benzamide 24

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N-(2- dimethylamino-ethyl)- benzamide 25

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- piperidin-4-yl-benzamide 26

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- isopropyl-benzamide 27

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- methyl-N-pyridin-2-yl- benzamide 28

{2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin- 5-yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]- phenyl}-morpholin-4-yl- methanone 29

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N,N- dimethyl-benzamide 30

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-N- ethyl-4-fluoro-benzamide 31

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4- fluoro-N-pyridin-3-yl- benzamide 32

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-4- fluoro-N-pyridin-3-ylmethyl- benzamide 33

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-5- fluoro-N-methyl-benzamide 34

2-[5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5- yl)-1-tert-butyl-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]-3- fluoro-N-methyl-benzamide 35

3-[1-tert-Butyl-5-(5- methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-1H- benzoimidazol-2-yl]- benzamide

In one embodiment, the invention relates to any of the compounds depicted in Table 1 above and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Representative compounds of the invention show activity in the FLAP binding assay and in the human whole blood LTB₄ production inhibition assay, described in the assessment of biological properties section, as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Example SPA IC₅₀ (nM) hWB IC₅₀ (nM) 1 1400 2 25.20 2187 3 0.91 763 4 11.40 433 5 357 6 5.07 130 7 21.90 414 8 7.40 94 9 110.90 >5000 10 6.09 11 55.60 12 610.00 >5000 14 35.40 1154 15 220.00 >5000 16 644.90 17 22.00 18 18.80 2437 19 43.80 2872 20 2.20 2700 21 14.70 3286 22 1.50 2246 23 17.40 2226 24 140.00 2868 25 460.00 >5000 26 34.60 4900 27 180.00 28 520.00 >5000 29 200.00 3049 30 413 31 1949 32 939 33 20.00 3082 34 15.80 906 35 4700.00

The invention also relates to pharmaceutical preparations, containing as active substance one or more compounds of the invention, or the pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, optionally combined with conventional excipients and/or carriers.

Compounds of the invention also include their isotopically-labelled forms. An isotopically-labelled form of an active agent of a combination of the present invention is identical to said active agent but for the fact that one or more atoms of said active agent have been replaced by an atom or atoms having an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number of said atom which is usually found in nature. Examples of isotopes which are readily available commercially and which can be incorporated into an active agent of a combination of the present invention in accordance with well established procedures, include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, fluorine and chlorine, e.g. ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O, ³¹P, ³²P, ³⁵S, ¹⁸F, and ³⁶Cl, respectively. An active agent of a combination of the present invention, a prodrug thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either which contains one or more of the above-mentioned isotopes and/or other isotopes of other atoms is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.

The invention includes the use of any compounds of described above containing one or more asymmetric carbon atoms may occur as racemates and racemic mixtures, single enantiomers, diastereomeric mixtures and individual diastereomers. Isomers shall be defined as being enantiomers and diastereomers. All such isomeric forms of these compounds are expressly included in the present invention. Each stereogenic carbon may be in the R or S configuration, or a combination of configurations.

Some of the compounds of the invention can exist in more than one tautomeric form. The invention includes methods using all such tautomers.

All terms as used herein in this specification, unless otherwise stated, shall be understood in their ordinary meaning as known in the art. For example, “C₁₋₆ alkoxy” is a C₁₋₆ alkyl with a terminal oxygen, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy. All alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups shall be understood as being branched or unbranched where structurally possible and unless otherwise specified. Other more specific definitions are as follows:

The term “alkyl” refers to both branched and unbranched alkyl groups. It should be understood that any combination term using an “alk” or “alkyl” prefix refers to analogs according to the above definition of “alkyl”. For example, terms such as “alkoxy”, “alkylhio” refer to alkyl groups linked to a second group via an oxygen or sulfur atom. “Alkanoyl” refers to an alkyl group linked to a carbonyl group (C═O).

In all alkyl groups or carbon chains, one or more carbon atoms can be optionally replaced by heteroatoms such as O, S or N. It shall be understood that if N is not substituted then it is NH. It shall also be understood that the heteroatoms may replace either terminal carbon atoms or internal carbon atoms within a branched or unbranched carbon chain.

Such groups can be substituted as herein above described by groups such as oxo to result in definitions such as but not limited to: alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, amido and thioxo. As used herein, “nitrogen” and “sulfur” include any oxidized form of nitrogen and sulfur and the quaternized form of any basic nitrogen. For example, for a —S—C₁₋₆ alkyl radical, unless otherwise specified, shall be understood to include —S(O)—C₁₋₆ alkyl and —S(O)₂—C₁₋₆ alkyl.

The term “C₃₋₁₀ carbocycle” or “cycloalkyl” refers to a nonaromatic 3 to 10-membered (but preferably, 3 to 6-membered) monocyclic carbocyclic radical or a nonaromatic 6 to 10-membered fused bicyclic, bridged bicyclic, or spirocyclic carbocyclic radical. The C₃₋₁₀ carbocycle may be either saturated or partially unsaturated, and the carbocycle may be attached by any atom of the cycle which results in the creation of a stable structure. Non-limiting examples of 3 to 10-membered monocyclic carbocycles include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptanyl, cycloheptenyl, and cyclohexanone. Non-limiting examples of 6 to 10-membered fused bicyclic carbocyclic radicals include bicyclo[3.3.0]octane, bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, and bicyclo[4.4.0]decanyl (decahydronaphthalenyl). Non-limiting examples of 6 to 10-membered bridged bicyclic carbocyclic radicals include bicyclo[2.2.2]heptanyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octanyl, and bicyclo[3.2.1]octanyl. Non-limiting examples of 6 to 10-membered spirocyclic carbocyclic radicals include but are not limited to spiro[3,3]heptanyl, spiro[3,4]octanyl and spiro[4,4]heptanyl.

The term “C₆₋₁₀ aryl” refers to aromatic hydrocarbon rings containing from six to ten carbon ring atoms. The term C₆₋₁₀ aryl includes monocyclic rings and bicyclic rings where at least one of the rings is aromatic. Non-limiting examples of C₆₋₁₀ aryls include phenyl, indanyl, indenyl, benzocyclobutanyl, dihydronaphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, naphthyl, benzocycloheptanyl and benzocycloheptenyl.

The term “5 to 11-membered heterocycle” refers to a stable nonaromatic 4-8 membered monocyclic heterocyclic radical or a stable nonaromatic 6 to 11-membered fused bicyclic, bridged bicyclic or spirocyclic heterocyclic radical. The 5 to 11-membered heterocycle consists of carbon atoms and one or more, preferably from one to four heteroatoms chosen from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. The heterocycle may be either saturated or partially unsaturated. Non-limiting examples of nonaromatic 4-8 membered monocyclic heterocyclic radicals include tetrahydrofuranyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, dioxanyl, thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxo-1λ⁶-thiomorpholinyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, and azepinyl. Non-limiting examples of nonaromatic 6 to 11-membered fused bicyclic radicals include octahydroindolyl, octahydrobenzofuranyl, and octahydrobenzothiophenyl. Non-limiting examples of nonaromatic 6 to 11-membered bridged bicyclic radicals include 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanyl, 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanyl, and 3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanyl. Non-limiting examples of nonaromatic 6 to 11-membered spirocyclic heterocyclic radicals include 7-aza-spiro[3,3]heptanyl, 7-spiro[3,4]octanyl, and 7-aza-spiro[3,4]octanyl.

The term “5 to 11-membered heteroaryl” shall be understood to mean an aromatic 5 to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl or an aromatic 7 to 11-membered heteroaryl bicyclic ring where at least one of the rings is aromatic, wherein the heteroaryl ring contains 1-4 heteroatoms such as N, O and S. Non-limiting examples of 5 to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl rings include furanyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, thienyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, and purinyl. Non-limiting examples of 7 to 11-membered heteroaryl bicyclic heteroaryl rings include pyrrolopyridinyl, imidazopyridinyl, pyrazolopyridinyl, dihydropyrrolopyridinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolinyl, dihydro-2H-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinazolinyl, indazolyl, thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidinyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuranyl, benzopyranyl, benzodioxolyl, benzoxazolyl and benzothiazolyl.

It will be understood that one to three carbon ring moieties in the each of the C₃₋₁₀ carbocyclic rings, the 5 to 11-membered heterocyclic rings, the nonaromatic portion of the bicyclic aryl rings, and the nonaromatic portion of the bicyclic heteroaryl rings can independently be replaced with a carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, or iminyl moiety, i.e., —C(═O)—, —C(═S)— and —C(═NR⁸)—, respectively, where R⁸ is as defined above.

The term “heteroatom” as used herein shall be understood to mean atoms other than carbon such as O, N, and S.

The term “halogen” as used in the present specification shall be understood to mean bromine, chlorine, fluorine or iodine. The definitions “halogenated”, “partially or fully halogenated”; partially or fully fluorinated; “substituted by one or more halogen atoms”, includes for example, mono, di or tri halo derivatives on one or more carbon atoms. For alkyl, a non-limiting example would be —CH₂CHF₂, —CF₃ etc.

Each alkyl, carbocycle, heterocycle or heteroaryl, or the analogs thereof, described herein shall be understood to be optionally partially or fully halogenated.

The compounds of the invention are only those which are contemplated to be ‘chemically stable’ as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example, a compound which would have a ‘dangling valency’, or a ‘carbanion’ are not compounds contemplated by the inventive methods disclosed herein.

The invention includes pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives of compounds of formula IA and IB. A “pharmaceutically acceptable derivative” refers to any pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester, or any other compound which, upon administration to a patient, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) a compound useful for the invention, or a pharmacologically active metabolite or pharmacologically active residue thereof. A pharmacologically active metabolite shall be understood to mean any compound of the invention capable of being metabolized enzymatically or chemically. This includes, for example, hydroxylated or oxidized derivative compounds of the invention.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic acids and bases. Examples of suitable acids include hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, nitric, perchloric, fumaric, maleic, phosphoric, glycolic, lactic, salicylic, succinic, toluene-p-sulfuric, tartaric, acetic, citric, methanesulfonic, formic, benzoic, malonic, naphthalene-2-sulfuric and benzenesulfonic acids. Other acids, such as oxalic acid, while not themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, may be employed in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. Salts derived from appropriate bases include alkali metal (e.g., sodium), alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium), ammonium and N—(C₁-C₄ alkyl)₄ ⁺ salts.

In addition, within the scope of the invention is use of prodrugs of compounds of the invention. Prodrugs include those compounds that, upon simple chemical transformation, are modified to produce compounds of the invention. Simple chemical transformations include hydrolysis, oxidation and reduction. Specifically, when a prodrug is administered to a patient, the prodrug may be transformed into a compound disclosed hereinabove, thereby imparting the desired pharmacological effect.

The compounds of formula IA and IB may be made using the general synthetic methods described below, which also constitute part of the invention.

General Synthetic Methods

The compounds of the invention may be prepared by the methods described below. In each of the schemes below, the groups R¹ to R⁷ are as defined above for general formula IA and IB unless noted. Optimum reaction conditions and reaction times may vary depending on the particular reactants used. Unless otherwise specified, solvents, temperatures, pressures and other reaction conditions may be readily selected by one of ordinary skill in the art. Specific procedures are provided in the Synthetic Examples section. Typically, reaction progress may be monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC) or HPLC-MS if desired. Intermediates and products may be purified by chromatography on silica gel, recrystallization, HPLC and/or reverse phase HPLC.

Starting materials and reagents are either commercially available or may be prepared by one skilled in the art using methods described in the chemical literature and in the Synthetic Examples section below.

Compounds of formula IA may be prepared as shown in Scheme 1.

As illustrated in scheme 1, a 1,2-diaminobenzene derivative substituted with R¹ and R² may be reacted with a benzaldehyde derivative substituted with R³-R⁷ to provide the desired compound of formula IA. The reaction may be run in acetic acid or in aqueous DMF in the presence of oxone or alternatively, in a suitable solvent such as methanol, in the presence of a suitable catalyst such as proline or p-toluenesulfonic acid.

Diamino intermediate II may be prepared as illustrated in Schemes 2

In scheme 2, a disubstituted nitro benzene of formula IV, is reacted with an amine of formula V, in a suitable solvent, in the presence of a suitable base such as potassium carbonate, to provide an intermediate of formula VI. X is Cl or Br. Reaction of the intermediate of formula VI with a boronic acid ester of formula VII, in a suitable solvent, in the presence of a suitable catalyst, provides a coupled product of formula VIII. Ra and Rb are hydrogen or Ra and Rb together with the oxygen atoms to which they are attached form a 5-6 membered ring optionally substituted with 2-4 methyl groups. Reduction of nitro compound VIII provides an intermediate of formula II.

Intermediate III may be prepared as shown in scheme 3 below.

As shown in scheme 3, reaction of a compound of formula IX with a grignard reagent followed by reaction with DMF provides an intermediate of formula III.

Scheme 4 illustrates an alternate method that may be used to prepare compounds of formula IA.

As illustrated in scheme 4 above, reduction of a nitro benzene of formula VI, under standard conditions, provides a diamino intermediate of formula X. Reaction of the intermediate of formula X with intermediate III, as in scheme 1, provides a benzimidazole of formula XI. Coupling of the intermediate of formula XI with a boronic acid or a boronic ester of formula VIII, in the presence of a catalyst, in a suitable solvent, provides a compound of formula IA.

Compounds of formula IB may be made by methods outlined in schemes 1-4 by using the appropriately 1,3 dicarbonyl intermediate corresponding to intermediate III.

Compounds of formula IA, IB as well as the respective intermediates prepared by the above methods may be further converted to additional intermediates or compounds of formula IA and IB by methods known in the art and exemplified in the Synthetic Examples section below.

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLES Experimental for Case 09-553

Purification by Reverse Phase Preparative HPLC:

Low pH Method

Solvents: Acetonitrile/Water with 0.1% TFA or 0.1% Formic acid

Column: Waters SunFire C18 Prep OBD 5 um 19×100 mm

High pH Method

Solvents; Acetonitrile/Water with 0.2% Ammonium hydroxide

Column: Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 um 19×100 mm

Neutral Method

Solvents: Acetonitrile/Water with no modifier

Columns: Waters SunFire C18 Prep OBD 5 um 19×100 mm or Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 um 19×100 mm

Synthesis of Intermediates 4-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-5-yl)-N1-tert-butyl-benzene-1,2-diamine

To a solution of R-1 (25 g, 0.1 mol) in THF (100 mL) is added R-2 (18 mL, 0.17 mol). The solution is heated at 60° C. for 16 hours. The solvent is removed in vacuum. The residue is suspended in methanol (20 mL). The precipitate is collected by filtration and washed with methanol to give R-3.

To a solution of R-3 (7.2 g, 0.026 mol) in DMF (100 mL) and H₂O (10 mL) are added R-4 (8.7 g, 0.04 mol), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (3 g, 0.003 mol) and K₂CO₃ (7.3 g, 0.053 mol) at room temperature. The solution is heated to 100° C. for 2 hours. The solution is cooled down, washed with H₂O (100 mL) and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layer is dried with MgSO₄ and filtered. The filtrate is concentrated and the residue is re-crystallized in CH₂Cl₂ to afford R-5.

To a round bottom flask are added R-5 (6.3 g, 0.02 mol) and ammonium formate (6.9 g, 0.1 mol) in EtOH, (100 mL), followed by the addition of zinc dust (4.3 g, 0.066 mol). The reaction mixture is stirred at 50° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture is filtered through a short pad of diatomaceous earth. The filter pad is rinsed with MeOH (50 mL) and the combined filtrate is concentrated. The residue is extracted with H₂O (50 mL) and EtOAc (3×50 mL). The combined organic layer is washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, dried (MgSO₄) and filtered. The filtrate is concentrated to afford the title intermediate (4.5 g).

The following intermediate is synthesized in similar fashion with appropriate reagents:

Intermediate Structure I-2

Example 1

To a solution of I-1 (50 mg, 0.19 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) is added R-6 (44 mg, 0.29 mmol) at room temperature. Oxone (119 mg, 0.19 mmol) in H₂O (1 mL) is added and the solution is stirred at the same temperature for 1 hour. Sat. sodium thiosulfate is added and the mixture is extracted with EtOAc (3×10 mL) and H₂O (10 mL). The combined organic layer is dried with MgSO₄ and is filtered. The filtrate is concentrated and the residue is purified by reverse Prep HPLC (high pH method) to yield title compound (52 mg).

The following compounds are also obtained by methods described in Example 1:

m/z Ex- (M⁺ + ample Structure 1) 15

406.2 16

388.2 17

402.77

Example 2

To a solution of example 17 (15.6 mg, 0.27 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (5 mL) is added trimethylaluminium (2M in toluene, 0.187 mL, 0.81 mmol) and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour. R-7 (100 mg, 0.25 mmol) is then added and the reaction is stirred at 100° C. for 2 hours. The reaction is cooled to room temperature then quenched with water. The organics are separated and the aqueous phase is extracted into CH₂Cl₂. The combined organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by preparative HPLC (neutral method) to give the title compound (52.8 mg).

The following compounds are also obtained by methods described in Example 2:

Example no Structure m/z(M⁺ + 1) 18

471.34 19

445.33 20

464.29 21

443.32 22

464.35 23

415.29 24

458.37 25

470.4 26

429.33 27

478.34

Example 3

To a solution of example 1 (96 mg, 0.25 mmol) in DMF (1.5 mL) is added N-[(dimethylamino)-1H,1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-B]pyridin-1-ylmethylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide (HATU) (98.9 mg, 0.26 mmol) and triethylamine (TEA) (0.04 mL, 0.26 mmol). The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour and R-8 (23.3 mg, 0.25 mmol) is added followed by stifling at room temperature for 1.5 hours. Extra HATU (98.9 mg, 0.26 mmol) and TEA (0.072 mL, 0.52 mmol) are added and the reaction mixture is stirred at 40° C. for a further 25 hours and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in EtOAc and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and brine. The organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by preparative HPLC (neutral method) to give the title compound (24.4 mg).

Example 4

To a round bottom flask are added R-3 (2 g, 7.3 mmol) and ammonium formate (2.3 g, 37 mmol) in EtOH (20 mL), follow by the addition of Zinc dust (952 mg, 14.6 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at 50° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture is filtered through celite and is washed with MeOH. The filtrate is concentrated and the residue was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂/water. The organic layer is collected, washed with brine, dry under anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The mixture is filtered and the residue is concentrated to afford R-9 (1.7 g).

To a solution of R-9 (500 mg, 2.06 mmol) and R-10 (337.6 mg, 2.06 mmol) in DMF (20 mL) is added oxone (758.5 mg, 1.23 mmol) and the solution is stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the residue is diluted in CH₂Cl₂ and is washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give R-11 (787 mg).

To a solution of methylamine hydrochloride (47.94 mg, 0.71 mmol) and TEA (0.10 mL, 0.71 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (6 mL) is added trimethylaluminium (2M in toluene, 0.484 mL, 0.97 mmol) and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour. R-11 (250 mg, 0.65 mmol) is then added and the reaction is stirred at 100° C. for 2 hours. The reaction is cooled to room temperature then quenched with water (2 mL). The organics are separated and the aqueous phase is extracted into CH₂Cl₂. The combined organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give R-12 (221.2 mg).

To a suspension of R-12 (221.2 mg, 0.57 mmol), R-4 (139.3 mg, 0.63 mmol) and potassium acetate (168.6 mg, 1.72 mmol) in dioxane (3 mL) are added PdCl₂(dppf) (48.5 mg, 0.06 mmol). The mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 3 hours and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is diluted in CH₂Cl₂ and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by preparative HPLC (neutral method) to give the title compound.

The following compounds are also obtained by methods described in Example 4:

Ex- m/z ample (M⁺ + no Structure 1) 28

457.36 29

415.15

Example 5

To a solution of R-13 (500 mg, 2.11 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (10 mL) is added oxalyl chloride (0.54 mL, 6.33 mmol) dropwise followed by DMF (0.1 mL). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour and then cooled to 0° C. and methanol (1.7 mL, 42.2 mmol) is added. The reaction is warmed to room temperature and stirred for 22 hours and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ and washed with water and brine. The organics are dried with a hydrophobic frit and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 50% CH₂Cl₂ in cyclohexane) to give R-14 (501.9 mg).

A solution of R-14 (333 mg, 1.33 mmol) in anhydrous THF (5 mL) is cooled to −30° C. and isopropyl magnesium chloride (2M in THF, 0.99 mL, 1.99 mmol) is added. The reaction is stirred at −30° C. for 4 hours, DMF (1.03 mL, 13.27 mmol) is added and the mixture is warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the residue acidified to pH 1 using 0.5M aqueous HCl. The product is extracted into CH₂Cl₂ and the combined organics are washed with brine and then dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 20-40% EtOAc in cyclohexane) to give R-16 (50.3 mg).

To a solution of 1-1 (38.7 mg, 0.15 mmol) and R-16 (28.0 mg, 0.15 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) is added oxone (55.5 mg, 0.09 mmol) and the solution is stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The mixture is quenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and concentrated in vacuo to give R-16 (63.7 mg).

To a solution of R-16 (64.0 mg, 0.15 mmol) in DMF (2.0 mL) is added HATU (86.2 mg, 0.23 mmol) and TEA (0.06 mL, 0.45 mmol). The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour and methylamine (2M in THF, 0.23 mL, 0.45 mmol) is added. The mixture is then stirred for 1 hour at room temperature and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in EtOAc and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and brine. The organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by preparative HPLC (neutral method) to give the title compound (12.8 mg).

Example 6

A solution of methyl R-16 (5 g, 21.46 mmol) in anhydrous THF (40 mL) is cooled to −30° C. and isopropyl magnesium chloride (2M in THF, 16.1 mL, 32.18 mmol) is added. The reaction is stirred at −30° C. for 3 hours, DMF (16.6 mL, 0.215 mol) is added and the mixture is warmed to room temperature and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the residue diluted with 0.5M aqueous HCl (100 mL). The product is extracted into CH₂Cl₂ and the combined organics are washed with brine and then dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 30% EtOAc in heptane) to give R-17 (1.56 g)

To a solution of the R-17 (985 mg, 5.86 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) is added potassium carbonate (971.7 mg, 7.03 mmol) followed by iodoethane (0.54 mL, 6.74 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 3.5 hours before the insoluble salts are filtered off and the filtrate is concentrated in vacuo. The residue is partitioned between CH₂Cl₂ and saturated aqueous NH₄Cl and the combined organics are washed with brine and dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give R-18 (959.3 mg)

To a solution I-1 (1.1 g, 4.35 mmol) and R-18 (958 mg, 4.35 mmol) in DMF (20 mL) is added oxone (1.60 g, 2.61 mmol) and the solution is stirred at room temperature for 4.5 hours. The mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the residue is diluted in CH₂Cl₂ and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and brine. The organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 10-20% DCM in EtOAc) to give R-19 (1.42 g).

To a solution of methylamine hydrochloride (663.5 mg, 9.83 mmol) and TEA (1.37 mL, 9.83 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (20 mL) is added trimethylaluminium (2M in toluene, 4.91 mL, 9.83 mmol) and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour. R-19 (1.42 g, 3.28 mmol) is then added and the reaction is stirred at 100° C. for 24 hours. The reaction is cooled to room temperature then quenched with water. The insoluble salts are filtered off and washed with MeOH and EtOAc and the filtrate is concentrated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, NH₄Cl and brine. The organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 4.5-6.5% MeOH in EtOAc) and recrystallised from EtOAc/.cyclohexane at 0° C. to give the title compound (579.3 mg).

The following compounds are also obtained by methods described in Example 6:

Example No Structure m/z(M⁺ + 1) 30

433.24 31

482.21 32

496.22

Example 7

A solution of R-20 (500 mg, 2.16 mmol) in anhydrous THF (21 mL) is cooled to −78° C. and n-butyllithium (2.5M in hexanes, 1.82 mL, 4.54 mmol) is added dropwise. The solution is stirred at −78° C. for 0.5 hour and DMF (1.77 mL, 22.83 mmol) is added and the reaction mixture is stirred for a further 2 hours before quenching with saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. The reaction mixture is warmed to room temperature and acidified with aqueous 2M HCl and extracted into EtOAc. The combined organics are washed with brine and then dried with MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give R-21 (395 mg)

To a solution of the R-21 (395 mg, 1.34 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) is added potassium carbonate (363.6 mg, 2.63 mmol) followed by iodoethane (0.18 mL, 2.30 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at 40° C. for 4 hours and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is partitioned between CH₂Cl₂ and saturated aqueous NH₄Cl and the combined organics are filtered through a hydrophobic frit and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 15% EtOAc in cyclohexane) to give R-22 (269 mg)

To a solution I-1 (320.1 mg, 1.24 mmol) and R-22 (259.0 mg, 1.24 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) is added oxone (458.8 mg, 0.75 mmol) and the solution is stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. The mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the residue is diluted in CH₂Cl₂ and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and brine. The organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 0-10% DCM in EtOAc) to give R-23 (277.3 mg)

To a solution of methylamine hydrochloride (59.1 mg, 0.88 mmol) and TEA (0.12 mL, 0.88 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (2.5 mL) is added trimethylaluminium (2M in toluene, 0.44 mL, 0.88 mmol) and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour. R-23 (130 mg, 0.29 mmol) is then added and the reaction is stirred at 100° C. for 2 hours. The reaction is cooled to room temperature then quenched with water. The insoluble salts are filtered off and washed with MeOH and EtOAc and the filtrate is concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by preparative HPLC (neutral method) to give to give the title compound (64.3 mg).

The following compounds are also obtained by methods described in Example 7:

m/z Ex- (M⁺ + ample Structure 1) 33

419.15 34

419.17

Example 8

A suspension of R-24 (1.0 g, 6.28 mmol) and NaOH (1M aqueous solution, 6.28 mL, 6.28 mmol) in THF (10 mL) is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is then suspended in DMF (25 mL) and iodoethane (0.53 mL, 6.59 mmol) is added. The reaction mixture is then stirred at 80° C. for 0.5 hour and then cooled to 0° C. and saturated aqueous NH₄Cl is added. The product is extracted into EtOAc and the organics are washed with water and brine and dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give R-25 (1.20 g)

To a solution of R-25 (1.50 g, 7.31 mmol) and tetrabutylammonium chloride (40.6 mg, 0.15 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (43 mL) is added 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO) (34.5 mg, 0.22 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (2 mL) and oxone (9.89 g, 16.01 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 18 hours and more TEMPO (34.5 mg, 0.22 mmol) is added. The reaction mixture is stirred for a further 22 hours and then the mixture is filtered. The filtrate is washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and brine and dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give R-26 (790.9 mg).

To a solution I-1 (860.4 mg, 3.34 mmol) and R-26 (790 mg, 3.34 mmol) in DMF (16 mL) is added oxone (1.23 g, 2.01 mmol) and the solution is stirred at room temperature for 2.5 hours. The mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the residue is diluted in CH₂Cl₂ and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and brine. The organics are dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 1-3.5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂) to give R-27 (952.3 mg).

To a solution of methylamine hydrochloride (321.0 mg, 4.75 mmol) and TEA (0.66 mL, 4.75 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (20 mL) is added trimethylaluminium (2M in toluene, 3.24 mL, 6.48 mmol) and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour. R-27 (952 mg, 2.16 mmol) is then added and the reaction is stirred at 100° C. for 2.5 hours. The reaction is cooled to room temperature then quenched with water. The insoluble salts are filtered off and washed with MeOH and DCM and the filtrate is concentrated in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, water and brine and dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 5-8% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂) to give to give the title compound (421 mg).

Example 9

To a solution of example 8 (80 mg, 0.19 mmol) and copper (I) oxide (0.8 mg, 0.01 mmol) in DMF (0.8 mL) and methanol (0.2 mL) is added trimethylsilyl azide (0.04 mL, 0.28 mmol). The solution is stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes and then at 80° C. for 48 hours. Extra copper (I) oxide (0.8 mg, 0.01 mmol), trimethyl silyl azide (0.01 mL, 0.09 mmol) and methanol (0.4 mL) are added and the reaction mixture stirred at 80° C. for a further 48 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled and quenched with 5.5% aqueous ceric ammonium nitrate (12 mL) and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is triturated from DMF and the solid is purified by preparative HPLC (neutral method) to give to give the title compound (8.5 mg).

Example 10

To a suspension of R-27 (615 mg, 1.40 mmol), methanol (5.0 mL), THF (5.0 mL) and water (2.0 mL) is added lithium hydroxide monohydrate (117.2 mg, 2.79 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at 40° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo to give R-28 (584 mg).

To a solution of R-28 (200 mg, 0.48 mmol) in DMF (4.0 mL) is added HATU (363.5 mg, 0.96 mmol) and TEA (0.20 mL, 1.43 mmol). The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour and cyanamide (40.2 mg, 0.96 mmol) is added followed by stirring at room temperature for 4.5 hours. Extra HATU (181.8 mg, 0.48 mmol) is added and the reaction mixture is stirred for a further 1.5 hours and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue partitioned between CH₂Cl₂ and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The organics are concentrated in vacuo and purified by preparative HPLC (neutral method) to give the title compound (15.2 mg).

Example 11

To a solution of R-28 (235 mg, 0.56 mmol) in THF (6.0 mL) is added N-[(1H-benzotrizol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methyl-amino-methylene]-N-methyl-methanaminium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU) (270.5 mg, 0.84 mmol) and TEA (0.23 mL, 1.69 mmol). The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour and methanesulfonamide (160.3 mg, 1.69 mmol) is added followed by stirring at room temperature for 5 hours. Extra TBTU (270.5 mg, 0.84 mmol) is added and the reaction mixture is stirred for a further 44 hours and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by preparative HPLC (neutral method) to give the title compound (89.6 mg).

Example 12

To a solution of example 15 (80 mg, 0.19 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) are added dimethylamine (0.19 mL, 0.39 mmol), 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]3-ethylcarbodiimide HCl (EDCI) (75 mg, 0.39 mmol), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate (13 mg, 0.01 mmol) and iPr₂NEt (0.1 mL) at room temperature. The solution is stirred at the same temperature for 24 hours. Water is added and the solution is extracted with EtOAc (3×10 mL). The combined organic layer is dried with MgSO₄ and is filtered. The filrate is concentrated and the residue is purified by silica gel flash column chromatography with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ as the eluent to afford the title compound (13 mg).

Example 13

R-9 (600 mg, 2.47 mmol) and R-29 (350 mg, 2.6 mmol) are dissolved in DMF (10 mL) and water (1 mL). To this solution is added Oxone (1.60 g, 2.60 mmol). This reaction mixture is sonicated at room temperature for 1 hour. The solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was partitioned between EtOAc and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. The organic layer is washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent is removed in vacuo and the residue is purified by flash chromatography (silica gel, eluted with 0-50% EtOAc in hexane) to give R-30 (0.826 g).

R-30 (400 mg, 1.13 mmol) is dissolved in DMF (6 mL) and 2 M sodium carbonate solution (2 mL). R-4 (0.322 g, 1.50 mmol) is added followed by bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride (0.070 g, 0.10 mmol). This reaction mixture is degassed and heated in a microwave reaction at 100° C. for 30 minutes. The solvent is removed in vacuo and the residue is purified by flash chromatography (silica gel, eluted with 0-10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂) to give R-31 (0.226 g).

R-31 (40 mg, 0.12 mmol) is dissolved in EtOH (2 mL). Potassium hydroxide (KOH) (0.40 g, 0.1 mmol) is added followed by hydrogenperoxide (0.5 mL). This reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 4 hours. The solvent is removed in vacuo and the residue is suspended in water. The solid is collected by filtration and recrystallized in DMSO and MeOH to give the title compound (22 mg).

The following compounds are also obtained by methods described in Example 13:

m/z Ex- (M⁺ + ample Structure 1) 35

401.52

Example 14

To a round bottom flask is added R-11 (1.4 g, 3.6 mmol) in THF (6 mL), MeOH (3 mL) and water (3 mL), followed by the addition of LiOH hydrate (180 mg, 4.3 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction mixture is concentrated to dryness to afford R-32 (1.7 g).

To a round bottom flask is added R-32 (1.38 g, 3.6 mmol) in DMF (10 mL), followed by the addition of 6N of HCl (0.7 mL). HATU (1.6 g, 4.4 mmol) is added, followed by iPr₂NEt (565 mg, 4.4 mmol) and ammonium hydroxide (4 mL). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is diluted with EtOAc, washed with water, brine and is dried under anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The mixture is filtered and concentrated. The residue is purified by silica gel flash chromatography with 0-4% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ as the eluent to afford R-33 (1.2 g).

To a sealed vial is added R-33 (80 mg, 0.22 mmol) in DMF (3.5 mL), followed by the addition of R-4 (52 mg, 0.23 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (25 mg, 0.02 mmol) and aqueous 2 M Na₂CO₃ (0.43 mL, 0.86 mmol). The reaction mixture is heated under Argon at 100° C. for 2 hours. The residue is diluted with EtOAc, washed with brine, is dried under anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The mixture is filtered and concentrated. The residue is purified by silica gel flash chromatography with 0-5% 2M NH₃ in MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ as the eluent to afford the title compound (44 mg).

Final Compounds

Retention LC_MS Example Structure Method m/z Time method 1

1 388.2 1.14 B 2

2 427.38 2.84 A 3

3 464.29 2.58 A 4

4 401.3 2.7 A 5

5 437.21 3 A 6

6 419.19 2.85 A 7

7 431.22 2.85 A 8

8 426.24 2.91 A 9

9 469.20 2.71 A 10

10 437.21 3.01 A 11

11 490.18 2.95 A 12

12 433.2 1.22 B 13

13 387.51 5.22 D 14

14 387.79 1.07 C 15

1 406.2 1.2 B 16

1 388.2 1.05 B 17

1 402.77 1.26 C 18

2 471.34 2.89 A 19

2 445.33 2.78 A 20

2 464.29 3.06 A 21

2 443.32 3.14 A 22

2 464.35 2.73 A 23

2 415.29 2.8 A 24

2 458.37 2.43 A 25

2 470.4 2.55 A 26

2 429.33 2.92 A 27

2 478.34 3.2 A 28

4 457.36 2.99 A 29

4 415.15 2.69 A 30

6 433.24 2.97 A 31

6 482.21 2.93 A 32

6 496.22 2.73 A 33

7 419.15 2.85 A 34

7 419.17 2.93 A 35

13 401.52 4.94 D LC-MS Method A

MET/CR/1416 High resolution method′ Column Waters Atlantis dC18 100 × 2.1 mm, 3 μm column 40° C. Mobile phase A—0.1% Formic acid (water) B—0.1% Formic acid (acetonitrile) Flow rate 0.6 ml/min Injection 3 ul volume Detector 215 nm (nominal) Gradient Time (mins) % Organic 0.00 5 5.00 100 5.40 100 5.42 5 LC-MS Method B

Column Agilent SB-C18 1.8 μm, 3 × 50 mm column Ambient temperature Mobile phase A = Formic acid (aq) 0.1% B = Formic acid (acetonitrile) 0.1% Flow rate 1.5 ml/min Injection 3 μl volume Detector 220 nm and 254 nm Gradient Time (mins) % B 0 12 0.25 30 0.3 40 1.19 95 1.75 100 LC-MS Method C

Column Agilent Zorbax C18 SB 3.5 um 4.6 × 30 mm cartridge Ambient temperature Mobile phase A = Formic acid (aq) 0.1% B = Formic acid (acetonitrile) 0.1% Flow rate 2.5 ml/min Injection 7 μl volume Detector 220 nm and 254 nm Gradient Time (mins) % B 0 95 1.7 5 2 5 2.1 95 2.3 95 LC-MS Method D

Column Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8 5 um 4.6 × 150 mm column Ambient temperature Mobile phase A = Formic acid (aq) 0.1% B = Formic acid (acetonitrile) 0.1% Flow rate 1.5 ml/min Injection 7 μl volume Detector 220 nm and 254 nm Gradient Time (mins) % B 0 95 7 5 9 5 9.3 95 10 95 Assessment of Biological Properties 1. Binding Assay

Compounds are assessed for the ability to bind to FLAP in a binding assay that measures compound-specific displacement of an iodinated (¹²⁵I) FLAP inhibitor via a Scintillation Proximity Assay format (adapted from S. Charleson et al., Mol. Pharmacol., 1992, 41, 873-879).

Cell pellets produced from sf9 insect cells expressing recombinant human FLAP protein are resuspended in buffer A [15 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 2 mM MgCl₂, 0.3 mM EDTA, 1 mM PMSF]. The cells are lysed with a Dounce homogenizer and the material is centrifuged at 10,000×g for 10 minutes. The supernatant is then collected and centrifuged at 100,000×g for 60 minutes. To prepare membrane protein for an assay, an aliquot of the 100,000×g pellet is resuspended in 1 ml of buffer A, Dounce homogenized, and finally subjected to polytron mixing (30 seconds). Membrane protein (25 μl, 5 μg) is mixed with WGA SPA beads (Amersham) and stirred for 1 h. To an assay plate (Perkin Elmer FlexiPlate) is added 25 μl of test compound prepared in Binding buffer [100 mM Tris (pH 7.5), 140 mM NaCl, 5% glycerol, 2 mM EDTA, 0.5 mM TCEP, 0.05% Tween 20], 25 μl of [¹²⁵I]L-691,831 (an iodinated analog of MK-591, Charleson et al. Mol. Pharmacol., 41, 873-879, 1992) and finally 50 μl of the bead/protein mixture. (final concentrations: beads, 200 μg/well; protein, 5 μg/well; [¹²⁵I] probe, 0.08 nM/well (17 nCi/well). The plates are shaken for 2 h before reading on a Microbeta plate reader. Non-specific binding is determined by the addition of 10 μM cold L-691,831 compound.

In general, the preferred potency range (IC₅₀) of compounds in the above assay is between 0.1 nM to 10 μM, the more preferred potency range is 0.1 nM to 1 μM, and the most preferred potency range is 0.1 nM to 100 nM.

2. Whole Blood Assay

Compounds are additionally tested in a human whole blood assay to determine their ability to inhibit the synthesis of LTB₄ in a cellular system. Compounds are combined with heparinized human whole blood and incubated for 15 minutes at 37° C. Calcimycin (201.1M final, prepared in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4) is then added and the mixture is incubated for another 30 minutes at 37° C. The samples are centrifuged for 5 min at low speed (1500×g) and the plasma layer is removed. Plasma LTB₄ concentrations are then measured using an antibody-based homogenous time-resolved fluorescence method (CisBio, Bedford, Mass.).

In general, the preferred potency range (IC₅₀) of compounds in the above assay is between 10 nM to 10 μM, the more preferred potency range is 10 nM to 1 μM.

Method of Use

The compounds of the invention are effective inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) and thus inhibit leukotriene production. Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, there is provided methods of treating leukotriene-mediated disorders using compounds of the invention. In another embodiment, there is provided methods of treating cardiovascular, inflammatory, allergic, pulmonary and fibrotic diseases, renal diseases and cancer using compounds of the invention.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, by inhibiting the activity of FLAP, the compounds of the invention block the production of LTs resulting from the oxidation of arachidonic acid by 5-LO and subsequent metabolism. Thus, the inhibition of FLAP activity is an attractive means for preventing and treating a variety of diseases mediated by LTs. These include:

Cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, aortic aneurysm, sickle cell crisis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, pulmonary arterial hypertension and sepsis;

Allergic diseases including asthma, allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, atopic dermatitis and urticaria;

Fibrotic diseases including airway remodeling in asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, scleroderma, asbestosis;

Pulmonary syndromes including adult respiratory distress syndrome, viral bronchiolitis, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia;

Inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, glomerulonephritis, interstitial cystitis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease systemic lupus erythematosus, transplant rejection, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory pain, inflammatory and allergic ocular diseases;

Cancer including solid tumors, leukemias and lymphomas; and

Renal diseases such as glomerulonephritis.

For treatment of the above-described diseases and conditions, a therapeutically effective dose will generally be in the range from about 0.01 mg to about 100 mg/kg of body weight per dosage of a compound of the invention; preferably, from about 0.1 mg to about 20 mg/kg of body weight per dosage. For example, for administration to a 70 kg person, the dosage range would be from about 0.7 mg to about 7000 mg per dosage of a compound of the invention, preferably from about 7.0 mg to about 1400 mg per dosage. Some degree of routine dose optimization may be required to determine an optimal dosing level and pattern. The active ingredient may be administered from 1 to 6 times a day.

General Administration and Pharmaceutical Compositions

When used as pharmaceuticals, the compounds of the invention are typically administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition. Such compositions can be prepared using procedures well known in the pharmaceutical art and comprise at least one compound of the invention. The compounds of the invention may also be administered alone or in combination with adjuvants that enhance stability of the compounds of the invention, facilitate administration of pharmaceutical compositions containing them in certain embodiments, provide increased dissolution or dispersion, increased antagonist activity, provide adjunct therapy, and the like. The compounds according to the invention may be used on their own or in conjunction with other active substances according to the invention, optionally also in conjunction with other pharmacologically active substances. In general, the compounds of this invention are administered in a therapeutically or pharmaceutically effective amount, but may be administered in lower amounts for diagnostic or other purposes.

Administration of the compounds of the invention, in pure form or in an appropriate pharmaceutical composition, can be carried out using any of the accepted modes of administration of pharmaceutical compositions. Thus, administration can be, for example, orally, buccally (e.g., sublingually), nasally, parenterally, topically, transdermally, vaginally, or rectally, in the form of solid, semi-solid, lyophilized powder, or liquid dosage forms, such as, for example, tablets, suppositories, pills, soft elastic and hard gelatin capsules, powders, solutions, suspensions, or aerosols, or the like, preferably in unit dosage forms suitable for simple administration of precise dosages. The pharmaceutical compositions will generally include a conventional pharmaceutical carrier or excipient and a compound of the invention as the/an active agent, and, in addition, may include other medicinal agents, pharmaceutical agents, carriers, adjuvants, diluents, vehicles, or combinations thereof. Such pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, carriers, or additives as well as methods of making pharmaceutical compositions for various modes or administration are well-known to those of skill in the art. The state of the art is evidenced, e.g., by Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20th Edition, A. Gennaro (ed.), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000; Handbook of Pharmaceutical Additives, Michael & Irene Ash (eds.), Gower, 1995; Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients, A. H. Kibbe (ed.), American Pharmaceutical Ass'n, 2000; H. C. Ansel and N. G. Popovish, Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems, 5th ed., Lea and Febiger, 1990; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entireties to better describe the state of the art.

As one of skill in the art would expect, the forms of the compounds of the invention utilized in a particular pharmaceutical formulation will be selected (e.g., salts) that possess suitable physical characteristics (e.g., water solubility) that are required for the formulation to be efficacious. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound selected from a group consisting of:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 2. A compound according to claim 1, selected from a group consisting of:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and/or carrier. 